The hottest line in hockey (Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Tyler Seguin) combined for eight of its team’s 11 points in last night’s 4-2 victory

“It is not a lineup of gifted goal scorers, exhibit A being Brad Marchand topping the list with 12. Marchand is a lot of things but finesse isn’t one of them…He may not be known for his hands, but Marchand now has a three-game point streak.”

—Kevin Dupont in Wednesday’s Boston Globe

The hottest line in hockey (Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Tyler Seguin) combined for eight of its team’s 11 points in last night’s 4-2 victory over the finally competitive Toronto Maple Leafs at the Garden. Seguin led the way with two goals (#s 6 and 7) and an assist, Bergeron chipped in with a 1-2–3 line, and the finesse-and-hands deficient Marchand (per above) tallied two helpers.

After Bergeron and Nazem ‘the REM’ Kadri traded goals, the Bs pulled away on tallies by Seguin and David Krejci to make it 3-1. Jay McClement’s goal-mouth tip late in the third to make it 3-2 tightened some sphincters until Seguin potted an ENG to put it away.

Anton Khudobin was once again very solid in the pipes, stopping 21 of 23 shots and making a couple of nice stops to preserve leads. The two Leafs goals were hardly his fault.

So after a two-game hiccup, the Bs got (mostly) back to their way of doing things and a result they’re more familiar with. They were also able to put some distance between themselves and the Leafs. The Bruins are currently just one point from the top seed in the East/Northeast Division leader. Their 33 points are just beneath Montreal’s 34 but the Bruins still have a whole three games in hand. They look to grab at least temporary hold of the #1 tomorrow afternoon when Padawan Bryzgalov and company come to town.

A few more bud for your snowed-in bowl…

*As noted in this space last week, the Bruins finally ended Chris Bourque’s extended audition for the third line when they sent him back down to Providence yesterday and called up Jordan Caron today to replace his spot on the roster. Bourque did the best he could given his stature and skill set. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t cutting it on a team with serious Stanley Cup aspirations so the Bs have to give somebody else a look. But it wasn’t all bad for him—he’s guaranteed $550,000 next year wherever he plays.

*Regardless of where the Bs put him, Caron immediately makes them bigger and tougher to play against. Though he’s shown some offensive flashes in call-ups in the two previous seasons, it’s likely the Bs want to see a more overall consistent effort from the kid to determine if he’s going to stick around for awhile. But then, it might not matter if a certain Swede comes to town.

*Because per Darren Dreger, 6’3” 225 lb. Carl Soderberg (obtained for Hannu Toivonen 100 years ago) hopes to join the Bs after his Swedish Elite League playoffs end. He’s been described as “the best player in Sweden” and solid 2nd line center. If the Bs let him get to free agency, he’ll be scooped up right away. But the Bs do have his rights and might just be able to insert a highly-skilled forward right into their line-up without having to part with any players or picks. If nothing else, Soderberg’s decision certainly adds another interesting wrinkle to Peter Chiarelli’s deadline decisions. The latest he can come over is the third week in April but once his season is done, the Bs can sign him and get him in the spoked-B. If they Bs are able to come to terms, will they still be in the market for another forward? Or will they concentrate their efforts more on the back end to solidify what has been a less-than-stellar D corps? Whatever the front office does decide, they have more options today than they did yesterday and that’s never a bad thing for a team looking to load up for the playoff run.

*After Marc Staal was horrifically hit in the eye with a puck in New York the other night, there has been a renewed call for mandatory visors. Bryan Berard, Manny Malhotra, Ian Laperrirere, and Chris Pronger are the names that immediately come to mind of guys whose careers were either severely altered or ended due to injuries near or on the eye. The common sense thing to do seems to make them mandatory but grandfather guys in that already choose not to wear them. But if the NHLPA wants to leave it a personal choice, it will likely stay that way. There’s not much scarier than seeing a 6’5” monster kicking the ice and coming just shy of screaming for his mother as he’s writhing in pain on the ice before a hushed arena. As infrequent as they are, you’d think more incidents like that would want to be prevented. But if guys want full peripheral vision, it’s a risk that many of them are more than willing to make.

*Has anybody called into 98.5 yet saying that the Bs need to sit Tuukka and make Khudobin the #1 goalie?

@Hidden Laxitives, I still cry a little whenever I see a Zamboni driving down the street

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by angryseagull on March 8, 2013 at 5:32 pm

So far, Marchand has the same amount of goals as Patrick Kane. Bottom line the kids a fucking sniper.So fuck off Dupont.

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by vermont stoolie on March 8, 2013 at 5:16 pm

Focus on the back end of the D, get rid of an aging Ference. Chara isn’t getting any younger either, afraid to say. Boston’s run was built on defense and goaltending, that’s where you start and that’s where you stay.

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by turschel on March 8, 2013 at 5:14 pm

Soderberg was called the “best player in Sweden” by his agent so take it with a grain of salt. He would add good depth to the 3rd or 4th line but there is no way he would take a spot from any of Boston’s top 6 Forwards. Personally I think they should still go after Iginla. Put him with Kelly and Peverley, that is a good 2nd line on most teams and would be the best 3rd line in the NHL. Give up a 1st rounder and a B prospect for Iginla and the Bruins win the East and battle for the Cup

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by turschel on March 8, 2013 at 5:14 pm

Soderberg was called the “best player in Sweden” by his agent so take it with a grain of salt. He would add good depth to the 3rd or 4th line but there is no way he would take a spot from any of Boston’s top 6 Forwards. Personally I think they should still go after Iginla. Put him with Kelly and Peverley, that is a good 2nd line on most teams and would be the best 3rd line in the NHL. Give up a 1st rounder and a B prospect for Iginla and the Bruins win the East and battle for the Cup

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by farasi on March 8, 2013 at 5:13 pm

Jesus christ Kevin Paul Dupint is a hack.

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by Hidden Laxatives on March 8, 2013 at 5:03 pm

Evil One I know that comment was brought on by an inability to shake the image of Brad hoisting the cup on Vancouver’s ice, so I’ll let it slide.
Sucks for Bourque but it had to be done. And I’m not suggesting Tuukka get’s replaced, but shit Khudobin looked smooth last night. Not a bad guy to have on your bench.

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by Evil One on March 8, 2013 at 5:00 pm

Rather than finesse, Marchand will always be known more for his love of Anne Murray and the Cock

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by vermont stoolie on March 8, 2013 at 4:58 pm

damnit RA you’re the most useful blogger here. thank again for the good work.

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by Make You Humble on March 8, 2013 at 4:55 pm

Pumped Campbell is now on our power play, what a move by Claude!!!

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by totalone on March 8, 2013 at 4:48 pm

Solid read RA!
Thank god the Chris Bourque experiment has come to an end. He is an AHL player who can be used in emergencies. Can’t wait to watch Caron on that 3rd line, he gives them some much needed size up front. He’s not afraid to crash the net and get the dirty goals. I’m not sold on Soderberg coming over, still think Chiarelli needs to work some magic in the form of a winger. Just cause this kid is tearing up the SEL doesn’t mean it’s going to translate to the NHL.

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